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No problem for a Timelord ;)

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:D

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:dozey:

:sniper:

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That will do very nicely.

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I loved Jodie. She was fantastic.

Also the new composer really did a grand job. That new theme was great and harked back to the 70s. I think.

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Yup that was good. Feels a lot less like 'going though the motions' that the recent series felt like.

Wasn't quite sure about the coming soon bit at the end with all the actors in the coming series? Few names were big enough there to warrant that IMO. Is this something they already did that I never noticed?

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I think that's mostly to do with how different they are going that they thought showing the guest actors was an idea. I did recognise most of them.

The new lenses and aspect ratio really helped it feel big and epic.

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It was ok, nothing special, but enough to keep me watching atm.

I think she babbles on a bit too much, I hope that calms down a bit.

I recognised about 3 or 4 of the people at the end.

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Matt Smith's Doctor used to babble on a lot too.

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That put me off a little.. Even though I loved the episode, I was a little put off by the fact the trailer made a thing of showing the guest stars. I've still got some bad memories of when the classic series went down that route. That said, not all the guest stars of the original series were bad. Beryl Reid sticks in the mind as actually being fairly good.

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Thought it was good, felt like Dr Who straight away which I was worried about. Give it a few more episodes to fully decide ! See Torygraph readers are outraged about the BBCs feminist/ethnic/disabled 'agenda' - sad mod edit can't keep their 'hate' away from anything. It was entertaining that's all that matters.

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like some mail readers racists saying on there comments on it not enough white people in it shocking

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I enjoyed it and looking forward to Sunday.

I see shades of the David Tennant version in Jody's portrayal.

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I saw a good bit of Matt Smith there too. Mainly the babbling and running about. Then again there was a glimpse of a few Doctors.

Jodie is brilliant though.

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I don't really like the regeneration episodes as they always tend to do too much disoriented babbling. The story wasn't too interesting either, but I can't really fault her performance for that.

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BBC Press Office
‏
Verified account

@bbcpress
18h
18 hours ago


First episode of Jodie Whittaker's #DoctorWho watched by 10.9 million viewers (consolidated) - making it the highest season launch for the series ever >> https://bbc.in/2CKnkhf

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Impressive figures.

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That is very very impressive.

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To be fair the first female Doctor Who was always likely to bring in the viewers. However the figures were apparently strong for the second episode too.

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I think in the longer run, moving it to Sunday will prove to have been very good for ratings, especially as it’s bookended by Countryfile and the Strictly results.

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No its not. A new Doctor has always boosted the figures.
Its only a little more than other new Doctors, which was always to be expected, given the circumstances.

Christopher Eccleston was 10.81
Matt Smith was 10.09
Peter Capaldi was 9.17
David Tennant was 9.84

All the above were on Saturdays

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I think over the last 20 years or so, Saturday TV has changed.. When I was a kid (and even up to the late 90s, when I definitely wasn't a kid), Saturday morning TV was kids TV. Some sort of two or three hour show with several presenters, with guests (who were usually current pop starts, or actors from TV shows/films), loads of kids, the odd game, cartoons or other kids TV shows, and music. Going Live, Live and Kicking, Tiswas, CDUK etc. Then , come the afternoon, it was sport, sport and more sport (or old films, old films and more old films if you watched BBC2 or Channel 4) . I was usually out by this time, so didn't bother watching TV. Then, come the evening (and night), we got some light entertainment family shows (such as Noel's House Party) or game shows, followed by more game shows, then a big (usually expensive) drama or sitcom.

Now, all Saturday seems to consist of is cooking shows in the morning (which essentially take the same form as the kids shows of the past, but replace all the games and cartoons with bits about cooking), "talent" shows in the evening, and any generic crap they find in the cupboard between the two.

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I do believe that the second episode maintained high ratings though.

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Figures are hard to come by atm, but on DS they quoted 7.1 Million.

The last season averaged about 5 million, so its doing better atm.
We'll see how it goes as the season progresses, and the novelty wears off.

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That would be the overnight. Consolidated figures (including catch-up) aren’t compiled until 8 days post broadcast, and aren’t published until 14 days post broadcast, except for subscribers to BARB.

Doctor Who has always been the BBC’s leading performer when it comes to improvement in consolidated ratings over overnights. I won’t be surprised if the consolidated figure gets very close to 9 million if the overnight was 7.1.

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Either way the BBC must be pretty pleased with the reception both audience and critical reception.

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I hope this isnt the road its taking.

Its turning from a police box into a soap box.

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Soap Box?

It's a very important historical event. I thought it was a great story to cover and it was brilliantly done.

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I was worried about it tbh. I thought that the seriousness of the subject matter combined with the family-friendly, lighthearted, feel of Doctor Who would clash and it would be exploitative. In the end I thought they did a good job of it and had just the right amount of intervention in the story without changing it. Having the idea being they need to maintain the course of history rather than actively setting it happen was good.

I did think there was a bit too much sledgehammer exposition though.

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Last night's episode was a bit of a mess. Shame, as the first 2 were good.

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Most people I know really enjoyed the episode and from Twitter comments it was mostly positive.

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Yes, I'm sure the Twits loved it, thats not much of a recomendation my book.

And yes, it was basically just a soapbox rant about racism, I presume you didnt miss the obvious dig at current policing ?
(and lets not forget last weeks anti war digs)

Shame because it could have been a good story about non inteference.

What about the (so called) villian, who managed to escape some high security prison but seemed totally incompetant at stopping anything in 1955, and then just got handily sent to the past (and how did the companion suddenly know how to control, set and use that advanced gun/device).

And if sent to the past, how come he (obviously) hasnt changed anything else, so history has just merrily carried on as if he never existed.

Three episodes in and this feels nothing like Doctor Who to me.
I dont know how to put this but find I have no "investment" with the main charecter, if this doctor were in peril, I would not feel bothered.
If the Doctor died, it would just be "meh". The companions are more interesting an appealing that the main character now, esp Bradley Walsh's.
(Even so, its a sad testiment that after theee episodes, I cannot remember any of their names in the programme, which is a first).

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The villain was just there to push the story on a bit. I wouldn't say he knew how to use the weapon, he just dialled back as far as it could and pushed the button. So the guy could have ended up in prehistoric times.

It was a good representation of the era I felt and yes of course there was a comment about modern policing, it fitted in perfectly I felt.

In the end it all they did was get things back on track and let the event play out as they should have and no real interference or changes really happened.

I have really enjoyed all 3 episodes so far and feel that Ryan is the most useless of the 3 companions so far. Looks like we will find out more about Yas and her family in this weeks episode,

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Looks like the ratings still held up too. 6.4 million before iPlayer is factored in.

Also the second episode has gone up to 9 million with iPlayer views.

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https://tellymix.co.uk/ratings/38114...figures-4.html

Same ratings again. Seems to be coming in solidly at 7 million.

So far the show seems to have done what the BBC needed to do. Refreshed itself and stopped the ratings decline, it's getting numbers similar to the David Tennant era. I do think next season needs to see the writing get tighter though.

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Gutted - the Celtic Manor Hotel where they filmed it is 300 yards from my place :shocked:

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Parts of the first ep of s3 of line of duty (the shooting in the house bit) were filmed about the same distance away from me- missed the whole thing! LOL

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Initial figures are around 6.1 million this week, so far its fallen each week.

I'm starting to find her (and her sonic) quite irritating, and apparently so are many others. There is no substance to her, just a constant (often incomprehensible) babbling and virtually no plot (and lets not forget the constant PC lectures as well). It least the giant spiders were quite realistic and frightening last week, that teddy bear thing this week was a joke, it reminded me of Nibbler from Futurama.

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It’s always been a lefty show but the level of PC-ness so far, and indeed to come (no doubt next week we’ll all be told how evil Britain has been) is seriously starting to put me off. Jodie isn’t so bad as the Dr but the show needs to start being about her and not whichever currently lefty narrative is in vogue.

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OH dear have hey done A Disney/Star Wars in your face social justice ram it in message?

I must admit it all wasn't very appealing and I'm only a Dr Who dabbler at best s haven't seen any.

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I really did enjoy it again. Ok story, great effects and the music was again really good.

I all this talk of PC this and that. Not one thing has annoyed me. I just don't notice it.

The Pting was a bit like nibbler and Stitch melded together.

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Well yeah it will fall for each episode, people tune out of shows more than that tune in during a season for the most part. That is standard really.

The one before came in at 8+ million once time-shifted viewing was factored in. So until the this episode the numbers were still quite high, again comparable to Tennent's era. 6.1 is quite a drop unless that catches up with time-shift viewing as well. The season as a whole is currently the most watched:

It also appears iPlayer/catch-up numbers are higher than ever. It's adding about two million each time.

Whatever else about the season the BBC will be happy with the ratings.

Personally I have not caught up on the last two episodes. I like Jodie as the Doctor but I still find it difficult to get into Doctor Who that much. I'll try and catch up. I might not though, it doesn't draw me in.

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Good call!

Next week they have British Imperialism in their sights in 1947 India.

Review of series so far on link above.

Not watched it but snuggled up behind Countryfile that has gone the same way it's a PC fest for the evening.:D

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Lefty ? Tom Baker is a communist for sure and he's played Rasputin..... However Hartnell, Troughton and Pertwee were definite Tory toffs ! The Daleks are a bit right wing too ;)

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whether ones thinks whether its left , right or any other label why don't they just either watch it or not as one either likes it or they don't like it.

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Here's one which is bound to provoke some controversy. I am working my way through the last issue of SFX and they have given Dr Who 3.5 stars (out of 5) and season 2 of Iron Fist 4 stars.

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Chalk and cheese, wouldn't really classify DW as Sci-fi, it has a much wider appeal than the usual sci fi clique. Its certainly been a needed change which only this programme can do and thrive on.

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To be fair ... Iron Fist is for people who wear black tee shirts and hand around in the back of Forbidden Planet. Doctor Who is a teatime fantasy designed for families with pre-teen kids. That Who has garnered a wider audience over the years is a mark of its genius, and in many ways its unsurprising that people instinctively want to compare it to Marvel TV. But it isn’t the same.

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Apparently, the daleks are based on the Nazis.

---------- Post added at 15:59 ---------- Previous post was at 15:51 ----------

I've not had chance to see my recordings of it yet, but a friend has told me that he's pleased to see dyspraxia being represented.

As time goes on the inclusion of different people won't be noticed as they are better represented on television. I remember the uproar over the first lesbian kiss on Brookside, but it's now represented on Coronation Street as an everyday occurrence (which it is).

The same goes for the weather presenter with a physical disability, it attracts little attention now that everybody has gotten over the shock of seeing someone with a disability giving the weather forecast!

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The Doctor Who "Christmas" Special wont be on xmas day, in fact it wont even be shown in 2018 - its set for New Years Day, 2019.

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I think they should do a Game of Thrones Christmas special.

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Is that confirmed now? I heard rumours a few weeks ago.

EDIT: DWM the official magazine have apparently confirmed it in the new issue.

---------- Post added 15-11-2018 at 00:45 ---------- Previous post was 14-11-2018 at 23:27 ----------

https://www.doctorwho.tv/news/?artic...-new-years-day
Synopsis
At least it's still a festive episode but set at New Year instead.

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Well it won’t have been for want of ratings. Who has always done extremely well in that early evening Christmas Day slot. So either the Beeb wanted to do something different, or Chibnall did. My money would be on a bit of both. To be honest if it means we get a proper episode rather than a Christmas-themed lite caper through time and space I’m all for it. Plus, it has been getting increasingly difficult to watch anything as-broadcast in our household on Christmas Day anyway, so I’m not even sure I’ll miss it.

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The Christmas episodes always were a bit vomit inducing, trying to fit a soppy Christmas message in. (notable exception was Tennants excellent debut) Everyone's too comatose and playing with pressies to follow any sort of plot.

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Good episode this week ... Turning bubble wrap into a deadly weapon of terror is exactly the sort of nightmare inducing fare we expect from Doctor Who. :D

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They had to fit the weekly lecture in of course. :rolleyes:

However, the episode was good, despite doctor sonic, who I'm finding increasingly irritating.

Its a bad sign when the companions are becoming far better than the main character.

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Well, it's worth remembering that the original justification of the time travel element of the show was to provide an interesting way to teach history to kids. Something which Doctor Who has rarely done.

Chibnall seems to be doing that more than either Davis or Moffat.

I think this series has generally been excellent, with yesterday's being the weakest episode, but still good.

I do agree with Paul that they are overusing the Sonic screwdriver though. I think we need a show runner who does what John Nathan-Turner did in the 80s, and destroy it in such a way that it's out of action for a few stories. New Who in general has relied too much on the Sonic Screwdriver having a magic setting to do anything the Doctor needs it to. JNT said in an interview that he did destroy it because he thought the writers were relying on it too much.

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I don't even think its how its being used for me, but the way she brandishes it like its a wand from Harry Potter!

I did enjoy this episode again.

Next week looks interesting, involving a witch hunt.

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Maybe the sonic is a willy substitute ;). Have to agree the Dr is getting lost in the background of the companions.
Trouble and benefit of DW is that unlike other programmes the episodes are very different,so some will appeal more to others, and it can change round the next week. Didn't care much for this week's but looking forward to next week's ( as I love the nasty Vincent Price film Witchhunter General!)

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I personally like it when the Doctor has to think his or her way through a problem. That's one reason why I liked the "Day Of The Doctor", because it changed the Timewar story so that the Doctor didn't just kill his entire race (a story I was never really comfortable with, after all, this is a character that doesn't even like Guns), but solved the problem another way. I know he used the Sonic Screwdriver to do it, but he still thought the problem through.

The problems with the screwdriver are that the writers do tend to use it as a magic solution to everything, even instances where the doctor could maybe build a gadget..

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Plus the thing is now a full scanner and diagnostic device and it doesn't just'unlock' doors. anymore.

Don'y know what something is...Scan it and it will tell you. Takes all the thought and investigation away. I guess it helps them speed up the story.

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Doctor Who New Year special to see Daleks battle Jodie Whittaker for first time

https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/...OX2-fSkJ-nsqnI

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Ever since I saw inside a Dalek I’ve felt they’ve lost their impact completely.

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When l saw the Dalek's when l was younger it was straight behind the sofa for me.

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The dalek’s what? :Yikes:

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That was the best episode of the series IMO.

From that teaser I am sure the Daleks will the the big bad of the special.

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I think in the new series, they've overused the Daleks. Thankfully, Moffat cut down on the usage after Davis, but I think he made some mistakes (Colourful daleks being the main one) and I think still used them a little too much.

It didn't bother me seeing the inside of a Dalek. I'd already seen them in various Classic Who stories before New Who , and I still rate Dalek, the story that re-introduced the Daleks as the best Dalek story in New Who (as well as being one of the best stories of all in New Who). While it takes massive leaps of faith to believe in the story (such as believing anything can download the entire internet in a few seconds through a VGA cable), it's still quite tense, and even a little scary.

I think overusing them has made them less scary. The same with the Weeping Angels. She's not at all scary, but I think they also ruined River Song by overusing the character. She worked best when she had an air of mystery about her.

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They've overused that fecking sonic screwdriver for sure !

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It was just as used in previous years.

Even in the classic era. So much so that they eventually destroyed it.

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Yes I remember by a Terleptil in 'the Visitation'

Oops, I'll get my anorak ! ;)

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No it wasnt.

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The 10th Doctor and also the 11th did use it a lot.

Watching a classic episodes it got relied on a lot too.

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No, they used it, they just did not use it a lot.

Its been way too heavily used in this season.

Door locked, use the sonic.
Need to access the computer, use the sonic.
Not sure what that object is, use the sonic.
Run out of ideas, use the sonic.

Take your Jodi specs off for a few minutes ;)

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I have no Jodie specs.

The sonic was well over used by many Doctors and was used for so many different purposes.

The_Doctor%27s_sonic_screwdriver

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I remember John Culshaw phoning up B&Q as Tom Baker asking them if they had any sonic screwdrivers in stock. He also phoned up Tom Baker as Tom Baker and he played along with it brilliantly.

I've managed to miss every episode of the new series and still think it's in desperate need of a hiatus, nothing I've seen here or heard elsewhere has convinced me otherwise

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Tom Baker one of the finest Doctors IMO from the all the doctors we have had..

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Rubbish, Colin Baker was still the best by a mile ;)

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Well we will agree to disagree Mr K.:p:

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Well Season 12 starts on New Years day, and then carries on every Sunday again, 10 episodes in total.

Sad to say its the first time since the revival that I'm just thinking "meh .. ".

In our house, we used to make sure we were free to watch it, when it was on.
This year (well next year to be correct) we will probably just watch a recording.

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Am I right in thinking the New Years Day season opener is being offered instead of a Christmas Day special this year? Or are we still getting a Christmas episode?

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No Christmas episode.

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Nope Christmas special are gone for the time being. Chris Chibnall thinks that they have ran out of decent story ideas for them now. So will likely be New Year ones for time being.

This season brings back a story arc and also 2 part stories.

It does look really interesting from the trailer.

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The Dr. being sexy just isn't right; he/she needs to regenerate into a grumpy old bloke asap.

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I’m more surprised it got a special every year since the revival to be fair. Very few shows get the same slot every Christmas over that length of time.

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I’m a sexist Luddite.

I stopped watching during Cappaldi’s tenure. It was going down hill (IMO) under Matt Smith, Cappaldi killed it for me and, sorry for being me, but the Doctor is not a woman. I know the debate is over but it would be like in the Star Trek reboot making Uhura a man.

Anyway, gender politics aside, not watched it since Capaldi season 1.

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You are correct.
They are a thing of the past now, I guess its no longer popular enough.
Just like it also gets only 10 episodes per season now, not the old 13/12.

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Capaldi really got into the role and was fantastic in his final season.

Also the Doctor is technically not a woman, he just looks like one. You should give Her a chance.

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The 'forced' discussion in S10 confirmed the doctor is female.

I did, Season 11 was poor, and so was she.
The previews for season 12 are not doing a lot for me either.

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I like Jodie, however some of the writing was not great. First impressions from the trailer make me think she'll be better this time as will be more comfortable in the roll. Most other doctors were also better in the second or third seasons.

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O!

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Indeed. A great surprise and very well done.

Can't wait for Sunday!

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Evil Lenny.

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V. good, back to form at last.

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Yes, this has been a fantastic start to the series and also a great return for the Master.

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First episodes I have watched in a while, missed all of the last season, that was pretty good though. I hope they keep the character of 'O' around with the same actor because he really nailed that specific character IMO, I would enjoy seeing more of him. Jodie Whitaker is good I think, I never really had an issue with her as the Doctor but the episodes of the first season were just bland. Hopefully they've fixed that.

I assume Lenny Henry will make a reappearance since the episode didn't give his character a conclusion, he is still around?

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I don't think he will be back, the Master on the othergand will be back for the finale, as it will clearly focus on Gallifrey and the mystery of the timeless child.

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If not it's very weird writing unless I missed something? The episode intentionally made it clear he is about to get away....

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Doctor Who villains don’t get to just walk away unless they’re going to reappear. I’m confident Lenny will be back.